Severe disability premium questions esa asks!

Confusedperson101

Hello I wanted to ask 8f anyone knows the questions esa asks for the severe disability premium on the phone. I done an application over the phone a week ago but can't remember the questions. I'm a little confused if I'm entitled to it as I am sofa surfing and only just started receiving pip start of month. 

They asked if I pay rent but I said no as I don't have a specific address only corrospondance 

poppy123456

As you are sofa surfing then unfortunately you won’t be entitled to SDP. For this you must be living alone or classed as living alone. 

If you do find somewhere to live in the future and you’re claiming Income Related ESA and no one claims either carers allowance or carers element of Universal credit for looking after you then you maybe entitled. 

Confusedperson101

Thank you for sending would I not be classed as living alone because I don't have a fixed address? I just had a child so I had to claim universal credit this would have been a backdate payment which I was really expecting. Also is there anywhere I can find the questions for the severe disability premium application as I can't remember what they asked

poppy123456

Having no fixed address such as sofa surfing means you’re not living alone so you’re not entitled to it. 

The form is called IS10 and you can see that here https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/688600/response/1637206/attach/3/IS10.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
Going forward if you do eventually find somewhere to live then as you’re now claiming UC it’s not payable with this. 

They are other threads here with members who are sofa surfing and asked the same question as you but they also weren’t entitled. You can use the search function to see if you can find those threads.

poppy123456

Thinking about this more, were you sofa surfing at the start of your PIP award? 

Confusedperson101

Yes I've been sofa surfing since start of my esa and pip

poppy123456

Then as i advised, you won't be entitled to SDP. You say the start of your ESA claim, when did your ESA claim start because new claims for Income Related ESA haven't been possible since Dec 2018. Therefore it could be New style ESA you were claiming and there's no disability premiums payable on this anyway.

Confusedperson101

Oh no this has been since 2015 but I read that some people ha e been entitled as they aren't classed as living with someone if they have no fixed address just corrospondance so a little confused

Also how long is time frame for getting a decision on this

Thank you for your help

poppy123456

One of the conditions of SDP is that you're treated as living alone, when sofa surfing you're not treated as living alone. Who is it you're living with exactly?

It can take a few weeks, sometimes longer for a decision to be made.

Confusedperson101

Oh i see and staying from friends until a property is available with council at the moment 

L_Volunteer

Glad you are able to stay at friends at the moment @Confusedperson101. How do you feel about this living arrangement at the moment?